Tech giant Meta has begun removing users under the age of 16 from Instagram, Threads and Facebook in Australia as the country prepares to enforce a world-first ban on underage social media use. The move comes ahead of December 10, when a new law requiring major online platforms to block access for children under 16 formally takes effect. Other major platforms, including TikTok and YouTube, are also expected to comply.
Australia has been tightening its online safety regulations for years amid growing public concern over cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, online predators and the mental-health impact of excessive social media use on teenagers. Despite earlier measures introduced under the Online Safety Act, the government argued that big tech companies were not doing enough to shield children, prompting the introduction of what is now regarded as the strictest age-based social media restriction in any democratic country.
Under the new law, tech companies that fail to take what authorities describe as “reasonable steps” to prevent underage access risk fines of up to AUD$49.5 million (US$32 million). To avoid such penalties, Meta has already begun removing thousands of users believed to be under 16, and the number is expected to grow. Instagram alone estimates that about 350,000 Australians aged 13 to 15 use the platform, meaning hundreds of thousands of adolescents could lose access in the coming days.
While some platforms such as Roblox, Pinterest and WhatsApp are currently exempt from the ban, officials say the exemption list remains under active review as the government considers how best to balance online safety with access to digital tools.
The rollout of the law is being closely watched globally, as many countries debate similar age limits and stronger regulations on youth social media use.
